Table of Contents
Ganondorf Location
| Location | Ganon's Castle |
|---|
Boss Movements
| Movement | Effect |
|---|---|
| Ball of Light | Fires a ball of light that brings down the floor when it hits |
| Multi Ball of Light | Fires 5 balls of light simultaneously. Will also cause the floor to collapse when hit |
How to Defeat Ganondorf
- Double your magic and defense in advance
- Stock up on potions to restore magic before the fight
- Reflect energy balls back with sword attacks
- Follow up with Light Arrows once an energy ball connects
└You can use the Longshot on the red walls - Knock Ganondorf down with Light Arrows during the energy ball barrage windup
└If you can't make it in time, reflect with a Spin Attack - Head down below when things get dangerous
In the Ocarina of Time Ganondorf boss fight, reflect his energy balls back with your sword to stagger him, then follow up with Light Arrows to knock him down. Once he's down, close the gap with the Longshot and deal damage with your sword — that's the core loop. Magic is essential and incoming damage hits hard, so make sure to prepare before taking him on.
Double Your Magic and Defense
| Stat | Where to Double It |
|---|---|
| Magic Gauge | Death Mountain Crater |
| Defense | Ganon's Castle |
The Ganondorf fight deals heavy damage and magic is absolutely required to get through it. Taking a detour to double both your magic and defense beforehand will make the fight significantly easier, so it's highly recommended to power up your stats first.
[btn {"article_id":"563324","text":"Great Fairy Fountain Locations"}]Stock Up on Magic Recovery Items
| Potion Type | Effect / Notes |
|---|---|
| Blue Potion | Fully restores health and magic Unlocked via a side event / requires an Empty Bottle |
| Green Potion | Fully restores magic Requires an Empty Bottle |
When the Ganondorf fight begins, your health is fully restored, but your magic is not. Since magic is essential to winning, make sure you have potions on hand so you can restore magic if you run out mid-fight.
[btn{"article_id":"563419","text":"Empty Bottle Locations"}]Reflect Energy Balls Back with Sword Attacks
The majority of Ganondorf's attacks are energy ball projectiles. You can reflect them by hitting them with a sword attack at the right moment, and landing the rally a few times will send the ball into Ganondorf and stagger him. It's recommended to fight while standing on the corner platforms, which can't be destroyed during battle.
A Vertical Slash While Z-Targeting Is the Easiest Way to Reflect
The recommended way to reflect Ganondorf's energy balls is with a vertical slash. You can't use Z-targeting during the Ganondorf fight except when he's staggered or knocked down, but pressing the ZL button will change your attack motion to a vertical slash.
Follow Up with Light Arrows Once an Energy Ball Connects
When an energy ball hits Ganondorf and staggers him, it's your chance to knock him down. Fire a Light Arrow to knock him down, then close in with the Longshot and attack with your sword to deal damage. Once Ganondorf gets back up, return to the wall side and wait for the next energy ball.
The Longshot Works on the Red Walls
The recommended way to move around is by firing the Longshot at the red walls on the corners. During the Ganondorf fight, energy balls and recovery from knockdown will destroy floor tiles, reducing your footing, but using the Longshot lets you reduce the risk of taking fall damage.
Knock Ganondorf Down with Light Arrows During the Energy Ball Barrage Windup
During the energy ball barrage, you can knock Ganondorf down by hitting him with a Light Arrow during the windup animation. The windup is an easy-to-read motion where he raises both hands accompanied by a burst of intense light, and it lasts a fairly long time. This is easier to land than the rallying method, so go for it aggressively whenever you see it.
If You Can't Make It in Time, Reflect with a Spin Attack
You can also knock Ganondorf down by reflecting the energy ball barrage with a Spin Attack. If you can't get a Light Arrow off in time, aim for a knockdown by reflecting with a Spin Attack instead.
Head Below When Things Get Dangerous
During the fight, if your health or magic runs low, heading down below is always an option. Ganondorf won't attack until you return to the upper area, so you can recover safely. The area below is the same one you passed through before the fight, and the pots contain health and arrows. Just note that if you already collected everything before the battle, the pots will be empty.
Ocarina of Time Related Articles
All Bosses List
Gohma
King Dodongo
Barinade
Phantom Ganon
Volvagia
Dark Link
Morpha
Bongo Bongo
Twinrova
Ganondorf
Final Boss
